Vertical adjustment device for earthworking tools



y 4, 1943' R. R. ROSEL 2,440,759

VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR EARTH WORKING TOOLS Filed April 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1.

IN VEN TOR.

ITALPH A. Rosa.

A TTORNE Y5. V

R. R.- ROSEL May 4, 1948.

VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR EARTH WORKING TQOLS Filed April 17, 194-4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A K 4 u L a M W n .F. My M W 4 t mm D IN VENT'OR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 4, 1948 OFFICE I VERTIGALVADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR EARTHWORKING TOOLS Q i Ralph Rosel, Fresno, Calif. r ,Applicationhpril 17, 1944, Serial No. 531,351

My invention relates to a device for securing quickly and positively vertical adjustments for earth working tools. Relating'to dirt scrapers to which it is specially adapted, the cutting edge of the scraper can be adjustedwhile thetool is in operation to a depthwhich'is predetermined to cut int'othe earth, or to aheight. at which the dirt in the scraper bowl can be spread at "a predetermined thickness, or transported to be scat- 1 tered elsewhere.

The object I have accomplished-is in connection with an earth working tool such asja dirt scraper in which adjustments as to the depth of the cut whenthe scraper is being filled, or the heights of the bowl above the earth when it is desired to spread the earth theretofore filled into the bowl, can be accomplishedpositively, and easily by the operator *while the tool is being operated. In connection with other tools, such as plows, the depth of the cut of the "plow can be positively fixed bythe operator by the simple movement of a lever, and while the toolis=being operated, or the entireplowcan be-lifted from engagement with the earth when desired,-and while the tool is being operated 1 These and othergobi'ects can be accomplished by means of the device'hereinafterexplained and illustrated on the accompanying drawing,- in which 1 Fig. 1 is a top plan viewof'the-device with a dirt scraper bowl attached-thereto. i

Fig. 2 is a side view of {the device Is shown in Fig. 1, a portion thereof being in section corresponding with the view inFig.l, a I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side'view of the rear portion of the device, having partscut away to show detailed views of the wheel brake and the axle brake, the scraper blade or bowl being shown in section. i 1

Fig. 4 is a viewfromthe same sideas shown in Fig. 3, but reduced in size to-show the full length of the device, and its general appearance without the cut-awayportions shown in-Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a separate view of stop means forirotation of the axle.

Fig. 6 is an isolated'view of the wheel brake. Referring to the drawing, I'haveprovided a frame II], which frame consists of beamsIUA and 10B positioned parallel for aspaced'distance, and thence bent to converge at apoint'at which draft link H is attached. The ends oiflbeams IDA and IOB opposite to the convergingwends above described are tied a spaced distance apart with a rod, or bar lllC, all of which is shown in along section' lirie 2-2 2'Claims. (01. 37169) 2 i Fig. 1. Rod or bar illC, as shown in Fig. 2, has a depending member l9, which member i3 terminates at the free end with a bearing NA, in which bearing WA the axle l3 can have a rotating, or rocking movement. Frame Ill is attached to axle l3 as above described. Axle l3 terminates at each end with a crank, i l and MA, these cranks being of equal radial length from the center line of axle l3, and are positioned on a common parallel plane Each of the cranks Hand MA is provided with a spindle shown as 13 in Fig. 1. Traction wheels ll and HA are carried on said spindles l6.

Each traction wheel is provided with brake 30, which brake is adapted to.1ock the wheel to the spindle on which it is carried, and likewise to axle J3. The brake I have disclosed is the well known internal expansion variety, although in my invention any form of brake can be used which will lock the wheel to the axle. Brake 30, shown in Figs. 3 and 6 consists of drum 32, which is attached to and rotates with wheel HA. A circular band 33, cut at one point in the circumference so it can be expanded or contracted with reference to its. periphery, is positioned within the drum, andconcentric therewith. Band 33 isanchored with pin 34, shown in Fig. 6,

to some portion of the device which does not. rotate with the wheel. This brake is made effective by expanding the diameter of band 33 by pushing ends 33A and 33B apart. This brings band 33 in frictional relationship with the internal periphery of drum 32. To accomplish this spreading I have attached ears 35 and 35A to the ends of band 33, and have placedhydraulie cylinder 36 between them, all of which is more clearly shown in Fig. 6. ,I-Iydraulic cylinder 36 is fitted with two pistons, 38A and 383, which pistons have piston rods 39 and 39A pivotally attached to ears 35 and 35A. A lead 40A from master cylinder 48 to cylinder 36 is adapted to introduce liquid under pressure between pisthe wheeLlocking it. to :the axle, the, natural result of the forward movement would be that axle l3 and wheels I1 and HA will rotate together on bearing I9A.

Inasmuch as hitch H at the front end of frame l0, when attached to a tractor, is adapted to hold the frame l an approximately fixed distance from the earth, axle l3 will rotate, and on the upward movement of such rotation will lift any tool which may be suspended therefrom. The pos on of scraper bowl 80 when thus lifted is s ow I ted that normally, when It is also brake 30 is applied and the rotation of the assembly of wheels H and HA and axle I 3 is effective such" assembly would tend to make a completerevolution. As the object of my inventioh ils' tollraise and lower the frame within defined limits," 'I have attached a V-shaped catch 22' firmly-to axle 13. This catch is shown-in liig. 5,-and.a so with parts cut away in Figs. 3arid "4. V catenzz is positioned on the axle so that when thelowest point it is desired to have the axle travel has been reached, stern-25B will engage tie'bar IIJC whichth'en'iunctionsas a stop, and when the axle has-reachedwhe "highestepoiht desiredin i-ts=rotation;- stem 26A engages tie bar [9C1 For the purpose of *holding 'axlel3 at any selective height between the limits referred to, r'ha've attached a brake Ell-to axle l3. For this *Iprefer the'external band form. Brake .60 consists or drum B'L ri'gidlyattached to axle l3,

and positioned concentric" therewith. The" details of'this'tbrake' are shown-more clearly in Ffigs. 42 "llheoutside' periphery of drum 6 I? is adapted a brak'ing surface.- This periphery is siirrohnded by band" 62 which brake lining 6 3 of. band 'B'Zf-WhiCh ear is pivotally' attachedto fneinbr 10010: the frame,'or to some other portibli 'of the device whichdoes notrotate with 'wli'eefor axle? The 'end'of' 'band 62 which is not and- 'be" lobse'" tn the periphery of drum ,6 I "or' it Gan be"drawn"'tightly'=thereon creating friction, B'JliCllioldliiig"the axle fromrotating. This is-acctfi'nplishecl by"attaching=a lug 65 to the floating jenz:i g r'baiuitzx nug: 65 has a'hole 'therethrough which 'isthreaded by-rod-fili? Rod 66- is pivotally attachedaflon'end to an appropriate portion of frame I El, 'the portion of" frame :I 0 which -;is alignedwi'ththe move'fi'ient oflug' fiibeing prewirn'ashonideFM has-been lined with Anear 64 is attached to one end i.

"pivotally'mounte'd'floats freel'y so it can: expand erate and move piston 15 within cylinder 14 comes from master cylinder 44 which is herein explained. V

I have provided a, master cylinder 46 which contains fluid adapted for use in hydraulic cylinders. To cylinder 40 is attached a container 44 for holding auxiliary fluid for use when needed. Container 44 has an outlet 44A into the master cylinder 40. Cylinder 40 has an outlet 40A into brake cylinderfig; andsan outlet 140G into cylinden-14. Lead-40B extends to'theibrake-lin wheel I I1, not shown on the drawing, but similar in all respects to brake 30. Leads 40A, 40B and 400 are call-connected with master cylinder 46 by ni ansor'acbnimbn connection 45 shown in Figs. 3 aiid'4'. Master cylinder 40 has a piston 46 fit ted.-threirii'and piston 46 has a piston rod 46A attached thereto. Piston rod 45A terminates which shoulder is adapted to engageiastop 48 on lever 82. Lever 82 is pivotally attached at one end :170 frame It! by pivot 82B. 'I heopposite end. of lveriiiz carries asrodsti Wh'iQl iQ eixtendsIto a lpivotally 'nidu nted hand [lever hand-lever; operating lever ,8 2- 'is manipiuated. .'Between the I ends". of operating j" -flgiiis' a stopfAB, which adapteditd I 'oulder. onlpisftonlrod IIti :wi jloe afi when leverfl}. -isfmov'eci,forv'vard;stop 43 o t'act shou ers; lofipistonflrodfifiA, and mores {pistori yiagainst the. iiuidiwithinicylindei- 40, forcing the fluid therein throng adsfllgitA anMPC t hrqm lie-p ie fi andflk #rhe ,fluid under! pressurea,initcylinderfi 6. looks wheel 11A tola' xle. fl 3 while simultaneously pressure-:0 ih v11 15 i r in r-.l e ase brake t r acc m l shi a radi a u t w Ki -l and-likewise ertical adjustment of, frame wand heteo rri dai he pni i t d-t ri efi :thetaxlebrakekis .shown-ln effective-1 position and use and in Fig 4 the same {brake is i own .as ineflective.

'A lightzspring 90 connects lever Til with post as 19 is ch d-term a4fiA-1--- 9 0;is adapted;to;returnlever 1D toca vertic gtion, andto keep e reltifll-in arneutral'po 'n. A stop rod 92 is:pivotallyattachedsat.orifiisen rto gleven 10. The efreeaendsoftstop rodenemi- ;-nate s;with ashoulderr fiswhlch is adapted teenbear against lug-65, 65 opposite to" the "face adjacent to spring -68, said-'leveibeing adaptedftoindve lug"-65 -against the" compression of j' Powr for moving lever 10 against spring 68 consists of an hydraulidcylinder 14,--closed-at one end and attached to post 13jwhichpost is attached to frame it). A piston 'lifit'ted within it cylinder 14;a piston rod16attacl'ied t'opistoh' l5;

an'd'a pivotal connection between the end of pisftonfrod 'lfi' andlever 10- is the mechanism directly 'adapted to move lever '11- Fluid-pressure to op- 75 -3 thei sameytimepermittingthebralres gage stop located-t-on lever 8 2; Rod-52 m combination with shoulder 93 and stop 94 permits-the re1eas n rofi ak g n-in e nd n Q i h operation of bralgegflu n; I i I t-; will beobserved that-when axle i3 is locked 1mm miaua -ih ahaah w h axl f mi round is fixedi positively-. untilanother adiustment is desired, and by the meansherein described, bygmanipulating handrlever; 8 5 .:the-;operator can 'raise the frame-rand axle toithe; height :desired'; and forthwith loclnthe mechanical ele- :mentsinthatpositionu L Scraper bowl is of the well known drag type-which consists of ea curved bask ts termimatingadjacent toathe bottom. with a cutting :edgegl! Wingsfigl arerpositioned.oneachjsideto rename e rt fq -i e admaa th s -b w ;.hu ;ther 1 i e ti et rl When it is desired to lower framIlit and bowl .BllyhandlevenfiEfis moved-backward soztnat-md L=will -;work reverseaof raising the bowl By jthjSuIGVQISG wmoyementmastery-cylinder 4 will remain-inactive. stopgak on levei'= ;8 2will (engage "showder 593.0;1 rod qL-which engagemgntresults .inalever; Ill-.rnbving on =pivot;- -ll lB.- in (the, direction 1 adapted to trelease brakei.fillaonz axle l and at l1 and "A to remain ineffective, whereby the bowl and frame can, by force of gravity, drop toward the earth.

Cutting edge 8| of the scraper will tend to draw the tool into the earth within the stop limits hereinbefore described. It is here noted that weights I'IC can be attached to wheels l1 and "A to make the device more effective in making all of the adjustments and functions herein described more positive in action. Such additional weights are not essential as in lieu thereof the wheels can be built heavier. When the depth of the out of the scraper blade has been reached, by manipulating hand lever 85 the pressure of lever 10 against lug B5 is released, and immediately on such release spring 68 is normally effective to make brake 60 effective, and thereby the scraper bowl is locked in position to make the depth of the cut positive.

Stop 91 is adapted to limit the movement of lever Ill.

When the scraper bowl is filled with earth, by means heretofore described it can be raised so that the cutting edge is on a common plane with the earth, or at any fixed point above the earth, and locked in that position. When thus adjusted the ground or earth carried by the scraper will be unloaded and spread over the earth the depth of such adjusted position above the earth.

It is understood that other brakes can be used than those described herein in detail, as the invention disclosed resides in the means for applying the brakes for wheels l1 and HA, and for axle l3, either independently, or in cooperation with each other as herein described, and for the purposes set forth.

I claim as new and ask for Letters Patent:

1. A device for regulating the vertical adjustment in an earth working tool while being moved over the earth with motive power, such earth working tool being supported on a frame, consisting of a carriage support for the frame having an axle journaled to the frame so the axle can have a rocking movement, the axle terminating at both ends with radial cranks extending equidistant from the center line of the axle, and on the same general plane, each crank terminating with a spindle carrying a traction wheel, a hydraulic brake adapted to lock the wheels with the axle, a brake on the axle adapted to rigidly lock the axle to the frame, the axle brake back and forth being adapted to create and release pressure of the fluid within the master cylinder, and leads from the master cylinder for carrying the fluid pressure to said hydraulic means for operating the wheel brake and for releasing the axle brake.

2. A device for positively regulating adjustments in an earth working tool supported on a frame, comprising a carriage for the frame, consisting of an axle journaled to the frame, the axle being adapted to have a rotary movement, the axle terminating at both ends with uniform sized cranks, each crank terminating with a spindle, a traction wheel carried on each spindle, a friction brake adapted to lock the wheels to the axle, an axle friction brake adapted to hold the axle rigid with the frame at any selected position in the rotary movement of the axle, hydraulic pressure means for applying the wheel friction brake, spring means adapted to make effective the axle friction brake, hand means operable at will for making the hydraulic means eifective, the same hand means being adapted to actuate the hydraulic means to overcome the spring tension actuating the axle brake at approximately the same time the wheel brake is applied, so that by manipulation of common hand means, and at will, the axle can be moved to, and held in any position desired in its path of rotation, and means independent of the hydraulic means, and controlled by the hand means, for releasing the axle brake so that neither brake is effective.

RALPH R. ROSEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,831,899 Willig Nov. 17, 1931 2,255,061 Johnson Sept. 6, 1941 

